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Why there's nobody the Red Sox rather have save their season than Jon Lester

BALTIMORE -- Three seasons ago, it was because of a sick pitcher. Wednesday it will be due to an under-the-weather organization.

Regardless, Jon Lester has once again been called upon to save the Sox.

For the first time since he was forced into action due to Josh Beckett's sore throat on April 23, 2008, Jon Lester will take the mound on just three days rest. And, as far as his rotation-mate is concerned, there is no better pitcher to execute such a maneuver -- even if it is in an attempt to save the Red Sox' season.

"I haven't played with anybody who I can say I feel like (he is going to succeed) every time he pitches," said Beckett regarding the confidence he has in the lefty. "We kind of have a joke where after he has one of those Jon Lester outings we go up to him and say, 'It's days like today it's a wonder why we let anyone else pitch.' I can't say I've played with anybody else I feel more comfortable with him being out there."

The Red Sox are ready to pin the hopes of their season on Lester, even it is without the normal allocation of rest.

That one other time in his career he took the mound on just three days rest -- a five-inning outing at Fenway Park against the Angels in which he surrendered four runs on nine hits -- the real Lester was just getting going, having totaled an unimpressive 4.81 ERA in 32 major league starts.

Lester would feel the effects of pitching on shortened rest, watching just eight of his 49 fastballs hit 92 mph. (The start before he had pitched at 92 mph or better on 25 of 67 heaters, topping out at 94 mph.)

This time around the lefty's start will be the 58th time this season a major league hurler has gone on three days of rest or less, with the collective ERA landing at 4.42 with a 23-19 record. Also of note is that since Terry Francona took over in 2004 Red Sox starters who have pitched on three days of rest or less are 4-13 with a 7.56 ERA.

"I think Jon understands the situation," said Red Sox pitching coach Curt Young. "I don't think it will affect him that much. He's a guy that did have the little health problem with the lat, but he's been strong health-wise."

Then there is the other piece of the equation that the pitcher will have to make sure to master Wednesday -- rediscovering the old Jon Lester.

His the lefty's last three starts, he hasn't been his usual dominant self, going 0-3 with a 10.54 ERA. And then there is the challenge of trying to correct his issues on the disjointed schedule that comes with the shortened rest.

"Jon is a guy you're going to trust every time he goes out there," Young explained. "His teammates trusts him, we trust him. He prepares for every start the same way. When you get that kind of routine going, and that kind of momentum where every start you feel good about what you're doing, it's a great thing."

But talking to those in the Red Sox clubhouse, the feeling heading into the season's pivotal showdown is that Lester will find a way, partly because that's what he does. And it doesn't hurt that his only meeting with the Orioles this season resulted in an eight-inning, two-run outing on April 28.

"I know he's going to be prepared, and I know there isn't going to be a scared factor," Beckett said. "He's just going to be out there doing his thing, cutting the ball on both sides, sinking the ball, changing speeds.

"It would be better if we had a 15-game lead and he had to go out there and pitch three innings. But in the situation we're in right now, there's nobody I would rather have out there."

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